tetryl

[ te-tril ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a yellow, crystalline, water-insoluble solid, C 7 H 5 N 5 O 8 , used as a chemical indicator and as a detonator and bursting charge in small-caliber shells.

tetryl

/ ˈtɛtrɪl /

noun

1. a yellow crystalline explosive solid used in detonators; trinitrophenylmethylnitramine. Formula: (NO 2 ) 3 C 6 H 2 N(NO 2 )CH 3 Also callednitramine

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetryl¹

First recorded in 1855–60; tetr- + -yl

Example Sentences

Favier Explosives: mixtures in varying proportions containing ammonium nitrate, nitronaphthalene, paraffin, and resin; higher nitrated naphthalenes, potassium nitrate, and tetryl may be present.

From Project Gutenberg

He said he didn't know why embassy bomb detection equipment found traces of tetryl, a chemical used to boost the power of explosives, on a bag, documents and a cell phone he had with him.

From Salon

But the documents and Mr. Khan’s cellphone tested positive for tetryl, and the officers arrested him.

From New York Times

Most of the buildings within that restricted area, while in reality enormous, were dwarfed by the vast spaces separating them; for safety-distances are not small when TNT and tetryl by the ton are involved.

From Project Gutenberg

After nitration the yellow tetryl separates out, and is filtered off and water-washed till free from acid.

From Project Gutenberg